Two Christians Hospitalized in Critical Condition After Brutal Assault on Church in India

Christian Persecution Continues to Escalate as State Elections Near in Chhattisgarh

10/18/2017 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Christians attending a worship service in Jaripara village, located in the Dantewada District of India’s Chhattisgarh State, were brutally assaulted by suspected Hindu radicals on Sunday, October 15. According to witnesses, a mob of more than 300 attacked the Bastar for Christ Movement (BCM) Church and beat the congregants, leaving nine seriously injured, including two in critical condition at the government hospital in Dantewada.

According to witnesses, more than 300 people encircled the BCM Church around noon on October 15 as a worship service was being conducted. The mob then disrupted the service, dragging Christian worshipers out of the church and into the street. There, the mob ordered the Christians to renounce their faith. When the Christians refused, the mob attacked and beat the Christians with sticks and slippers. Christian women were stripped by the mob and even Christian children were not spared. The mob then vandalized the BCM Church and set fire to the church’s furniture.

As a result, many Christians were injured, including Raju Sodi and Sangetha Kartami who sustained serious injuries to the head and hands. Both Raju and Sangetha were rushed to a nearby hospital following the attack and were later transferred to the government hospital in Dantewada as their conditions were deemed critical.

“The attack on Jaripara’s Christians is inhuman and highly condemnable,” a local pastor, who wished to remain anonymous, told ICC. “These attacks are popping up on the backdrop of the state elections that are nearing. The BJP, who is in power in the state, makes it all the more easy for the Hindu radicals to carry on the hate campaign against religious minorities for the political gains.”

Local police refused to file a First Information Report (FIR) when the Christians contacted the police. According to local Christians, Hindu radicals had filed an FIR on the Christians prior to the attack. Jaripara’s Christians had to protest for more than 24 hours to have police accept their complaint about the brutal attack and it remains doubtful that local police will bring the perpetrators to justice.

Attacks on Christians and their places of worship have continued to escalate under the rule of the current BJP-led government. Anti-minority rhetoric used by BJP leaders for political expedience coupled with an atmosphere of impunity for those who attack minorities is much to blame for this escalation in violence. According to Open Doors USA, Christians in India were attacked 410 times in just the first six months of 2017. This marked a dramatic increase from the 441 attacks recorded over the entire year of 2016.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India are becoming an almost daily occurrence. Hindu radicals across the country seem to have been given a wide berth by local authorities to pursue their hate campaigns against Christians and other minorities. This inability or unwillingness to protect and enforce the rights of Christians must come to an end. While Article 25 of India’s constitution guarantees full religious freedom for all citizens, the lack of India’s enforcement of this freedom leaves Article 25 as just words on paper. India’s leaders must do more to confront the issue of growing religious violence. Until then, Christians across India will continue to feel like second-class citizens vulnerable to religiously motivated assault.”

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My next door neighbor
A so called
Self proclaimed pastor is into same crapp
I’m a Christian and I’m against conversation from any religion to any other

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Do we fully believe this? And no, it’s not easy. May we be faithful to pray for them, that God would work in and thru, and despite, the insidious injustices they are forced to endure.

TTERRIBL GOVERMENT OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE TIRANY

Lord Jesus please bring peace and security in India. Amen

Please pray that the BJP government should not win in the upcoming elections.

I can’t stand liars. Praying for our brothers and sisters in India.

How can someone force to change my soul?

Hindus in India basically are innocent souls, but now a days some of them become tool of devil force’s

Dear Father God,
COME GET YOUR CHILDREN

Praying

What utter nonsense. Christians do NOT use FORCE when sharing their faith. It is a personal CHOICE and our duty is to SHARE it with others, THEIR choice is to accept or reject it.

We’ve shared about India’s growing persecution as religious and political tension mounts. This video delves into the recent incidents of Pastor Gideon in southern India, who was apparently hung in his church, and a mob that burned a church in northern India. Please continue to pray for Christians in India to respond in love, to be protected, and to have good communication with non-Christians in their communities. … See MoreSee Less

May we listen and learn. May we not feel overcome with sadness and/or despair, but be faithful to pray for these fellow believers. Jesus told us that such persecutions would come and He holds the answers to every such attack, every such killing. The gates of hell shall not prevail, so we pray for comfort, for courage, for forgiveness, for strength, and for wisdom for all affected. Our God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine, so let’s ask in complete faith, of He, Who is more than able.

Evil spirits blowing across India.
Only prayers & fasting can stop it from turning into Sodom and Gomorrah.

American citizen and pastor Andrew Brunson sits imprisoned in a Turkish prison for his faith. Now, Serkan Golge, a dual Turkish-American citizen, is serving 7.5 years in Turkey’s prisons on false charges on terrorism. Senator James Lankford is calling for the US to impose sanctions in light of Turkey’s actions.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Brunson and other prisoners of conscience in Turkey. More details in Sen. Lankford’s commentary below: … See MoreSee Less

I see death murder and terrorism in country which follow fake character
Go
Follow the real saviour
We will pray for you

Hahaha nobody need your prayers
It is one of the peaceful country on earth
See America daily gun violence and murder all because of following fake character
Follow lord Buddha

See daily shooting in America
They are following a fake and phony religion
We will pray for America
The devil will claim more life in America
Worship the real lord before it’s too late

Praise be to the lord…. 😇

Absolutely beautiful! I will save this song for me! 💗

That is because Christianity bucks ancient Nepal traditions.

How can I find it in you tube? What’s the name of it please?

Beautiful song and worship ❤️🙌🏼

In any language. God is Love!!!!

Really beautiful! Dameria Ehring

America is worst country for Hindus , Buddhism and Muslims
One of the worst country for gun violence they need real saviour
We will pray for them
Come to the real lord Buddha
See devil is killing more innocent lives in America
Stop promoting fake religion and start believing in the one true lord

Just 4 days after the last attack in a series that occurred one year ago, masked gunmen murdered another el-Arish Christian. We remember these men who gave their lives to follow Christ and ask you to join us in praying for their families, communities, and even those who persecuted them.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you… But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt. 24:9a, 13) … See MoreSee Less